Father-son team build website to recognize fallen servicemen

While millions of Americans paused to remember the victims of 9/11 Wednesday, a local man and his son have launched a website to remember all of the men and woman who have died defending our freedom since that fateful day.

In all, 6,727 servicemen and women have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. Joseph Lachnit Sr. and his son Joseph Jr. are working to honor each of them online.

Joseph Lachnit Jr. is an Army Ranger who just returned from his 12th deployment to the Middle East. Since 9/11, 15 soldiers from his battalion have been killed, including Sgt. Thomas Macpherson last year, two days after Joe was pulled from combat for a severe foot injury.

Lachnit Jr. watched the funeral online and was inspired a phrase from Macpherson's sister, that freedom has a face.

"My son looked at me and he said, 'Dad, we have to show America freedom has a face,'" Joseph Lachnit Sr. said.

And so that's what the two are doing by launching freedomhasaface.org, to show people not just the faces of those that have fallen in defense of our freedom but also their personal stories, the lives cut short.

"Just a few minutes ago I spoke to a mom whose son was killed two years ago in about ten days. When I told her that we were going to be able to put her son on the candle vigil she was really emotional, very grateful," Lachnit Sr. said.

Right now on the site they have about 100 soldiers honored but are waiting to add 7,000 more that they have pictures and stories from current and past wars.